Barton County KS Archives History - Books .....Railroad Y. M. C. A. 1912 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com November 13, 2005, 1:06 pm Book Title: Biographical History Of Barton County RAILROAD Y. M. C. A. ANOTHER institution of which the people of Hoisington and Barton County are justly proud is the Railroad Young Men's Christian Association which is a branch of the International Y. M. C. A., and was established in Hoisington in 1902. The money for the work was obtained by private subscription, donations by the Missouri Pacific railroad and Miss Helen Gould. The building is in the center of five 25-foot lots on the main street of Hoisington in close proximity to the M. P. depot. In addition to the cash which Miss Gould gave the society for the erection of the building she also aided it with special donations consisting of books for the library, musical instruments and she also provided for an emergency hospital, but this department of the institution was abandoned when the hospital was opened. The building is 60 feet square, and the big dormitory room gives ample accommodation for forty beds which are kept neat and clean and are rented to members of the association for 15 cents per night. In the buildings are found in addition to the dormitory room and foyer, a reading room, bath room, library, correspondence room, all of which are equipped neatly and conveniently. The bath room contains three tubs and five shower baths, is strictly sanitary and all articles used in bathing are furnished the members free of charge. The reading room is nicely furnished and on the tables are found scores of daily and weekly papers, magazines and periodicals all of which are for the free use of the members. The library contains twelve large cases filled with 2,000 volumes that cover every subject for entertaining and educational reading. The correspondence room is supplied with writing material and is furnished in keeping with the remainder of the rooms. The lobby is large and is used by the members for playing chess, checkers, etc. The institution is not intended for railroad men alone, but contains on its membership rolls a large majority of the men of Hoisington. The membership averages around 600 but at times the list contains as many as 800 names. In addition to the privileges mentioned above, at frequent intervals the members are given the benefit of lectures on practical subjects in the auditorium or assembly room. The religious education of the members is not overlooked and an air of good fellowship permeates all the work of the institution. The price of membership is $5.00 per year. The place is managed by a board of directors consisting of seven members, but the active part of the work is most ably done by T. C. Straw, secretary, and H. R. Popejoy, assistant. Mr. Straw devotes his entire time to directing the work of the association and he is untiring in his efforts to make it a place where men may come and feel at home and get the benefit of living in clean, wholesome surroundings. [photo] Railroad Y. M. C. A., Hoisington Additional Comments: From: Biographical History Of Barton County Published by the Great Bend Tribune (1912) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/barton/history/1912/biograph/railroad39gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb